Spring fastening device and means for operating the same



June 17, 1930. STATHAM 1,755fl34 SPRING FASTENING DEVICE AND MEANS FOR OPERATING THE SAME Filed June 10 1924 'vomtoz Patented June 17, 1930 NOEL STATHAM, OF IRVINGTON-UPON-HUDSON, NEW YORK SPRING- FASTENING DEVICE AND MEANS FOR OP Application filed June 10,

My present invention relates to fastening devices and means for operating the same, and more particularly to fastening devices adapted to close the seams of any desired type of device, such as garments, shoes, purses, bags, receptacles and the like, and embodying a plurality of spring fasteners and means for operating the same, and aims to provide devices of the general character specified above which will be simple in construction, practical and economical to fabricate, easy and convenient to operate, the operation of such'devices being simple and dependable; which shall at the same time possess a wide range of utility and a correspondingly wide range of applicability, and which shall possess other advantages in construction, use and operation which will in part be obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter, and which will thereby give to the devices of the present invention a wide range of usefulness and a great demand in the market.

In the accompanying specification I shall describe, and in the annexed drawing show, several illustrative embodiments of the devices of the present invention. It is, however, to be clearly understood that m invention is not limited to the specific em odiments thereof herein shown and described for purposes of example merely.

Referring to the drawings, wherein I have illustrated the foregoing illustrative embodiments of the devices of the present invention:

Fig. 1 is a plan view partly broken away, of one embodiment of fastening device of the present invention shown in assembled relation as applied to a garment or like device by way of example;

Fig. 2 is a side edge view, on an enlarged scale, of one form of means for operating the fastening device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the operating means shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top edge View, on an enlar ged scale, of the operating means shown in Figs. 2 and 3; and

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the assembled device taken Tine THE smn 1924. Serial No. 719,0?4.

along line 55 of Fig. 1 and looln'ng in the direction of the arrow shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of anotheLembodiment of fastening device made in accordance with the principles of the present invention and shown in assembled relation;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the same, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 6 and looking in the direction of the arrows shown in said figure; and

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the same, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 88 of Fig. 6; M

Fig. 9 is a plan view, on an enlar ed scale, of still another embodiment of the astening device of the present invention; and

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the same, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 1010 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of still another illustrative embodiment of fastening devices made in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Referring now more particularly to the illustrative embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the drawing, the fastening device shown therein has been illustrated as applied to the opposed portions G, G, of a arment or other flexible device which is pre erably provided with a seam S which it is desired to close or open, as desired, by means of a suitable fastening device.

To the garment or like flexible portions G, G, are attached the fastener-sup orting portion F and the opposed portion The fastener-supporting portion F may be in the form of a tape 10 having the beaded edge portion 11 which may, for example, be rovided by passing the outer portion 12-0 the tape 10 over a flexible core 13, in a manner which will be well known to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates. The opposed portion 0 may likewise consist ofa tape portion 14 provided with the outer beaded edge portion 15 which may, as in the case of the beaded edge portion 11 of the tape 10, consist of a flexible core 16' surrounded by the outer portion 17 of the niaterial of the tape 14.

Carried by the fastener-supporting por tion F are a plurality of fasteners 7. here shown as being each composed of two spring clips riveted together, whereby each of said spring fasteners provides a pair of opposed,

cooperating spring arms or .jaws 20. As.

shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawing, the rear portions of the arms are provided with enlarged, flexed portions 21 beaded edge 15, to embrace such'beaded edge and thus to close the seam S of the garment or its equivalent. It is, of course, to be understood that the fasteners f may have their.

conformation varied within considerable limits while still remaining within the spirit of the present invention, due regard being had for the'function which these fasteners are to serve and the particular use to which thev are to be put.

' The fasteners 7 may be attached to the fastener-supporting portion F by any suitable means. I prefer, in the case of fasteners such as those illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawing and provided with the laterally extending attaching portions 23, to employ a plurality of rivets 24 for attaching the fasteners f to the fastener-supporting portion F. The rivets 24 may be passed through suitable apertures 25 in the laterally extending portion 23 of the fasteners 7, and may thereafter be suitably headed over, as shown more clearly in Fig. 5 of the drawing, to securely attach the fasteners f in proper spaced relation on the fastener-supporting member F. It may here be stated that the outer extremities 22 of the fasteners f, as shown more clear-' iv in Fig. 1 of the drawing, may be provided with the laterally extending lip portions 26, in order to increase the area of grasp or purchase of the fasteners f upon the opposed member 0 when the device is in seam-closing position.

I provide suitable operating means for operating the fastening device of the present invention, particularly as illustrated in Figs. '1 and 5 of the drawing, into and out of scamclosing or equivalent position. For this purthe drawing. The reverse movement of the pose I may use the operating means shown in 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawing, and comprising an operating member M, which may include a central web portion 27 provided with the operating ring or other suitable member 28 and having the laterally disposed slightly arcuate guide 29 for the beaded edge port1on 11 or its equivalent on the fastenersupporting member F, and a corresponding slightly'arcuate guide 30 for the beaded edge portion 15 or its equivalent on the opposed member 0. While the length of the guides 29 and 30 may be varied within considerable limits, I prefer to choose such a length for the guides 29 and 30 as will cause the same to span or embrace at least two .of the fasteners 7 when in seam-closing or in seam--- opening position.

The guides 29 and 30 are substantially tubular in form and are provided with the outer slotted edges 29 and 30', respectively. The slots of the slotted edges 29 and 30 serve to permit the passage therethrough of the web of the tapes 10 and 14, respectively,

forming parts of the fastener-supporting member F and the opposed portion 0.

prefer, also, to provide the guide member 30, on both sides of the seam, as shown more clearly in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, with the slotted or cut-away portions 31, through which the outer extremities of the fasteners f may conveniently pass when the operating device M is moved into seam-closing or seamopening position.

The assembly and operation of the device just described will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates and may be briefly summarized as follows: After the fasteners f have.

been attached in proper spaced relation to the fastener-supporting member F, the eperat-' ing member M is threaded over the opposed portions G, G, of the garment or like device, as by threading the beaded edge portions 11 and 15 of the members F and 0, through the substantially tubular guides 29 and 30, respectively. The garment or like device is now completed.

In order to close the seam S, all that it is necessary to do is to move the member M in an upward direction in Fig. 1 of the drawing. This movement of the member M causes the same to pass within the fasteners f and to spread the cooperating opposed'spring arms 20 by means of the raised portions 29" on each face of the member 29 and to thus guide member M downwardly in Fig. 1 of the drawing, brings about the reverse operation, namely, spreading apart the spring arms 20 of the fasteners 7 which are in seam-closing position, and causing the outer extremities 22 of such spring arms to ride through the grooves 31 into such position that they will no longer embrace the beaded edge portion of the opposed member 0, thus bringing the fastening device once more into open seam position.

' It will be noted that the device is very Simple in construction, and easy and convenient to operate. For this reason the device may be readily and cheaply fabricated on a large scale and finds a wide application, its use being further recommended by the simplicity, ease and certainty of its operation.

Referring now more particularly to the illustrative embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 of the drawing, the fastening device shown therein has been illustrated as applied to the opposed portions G, G, of a garment or other flexible device which is provided with the 'seam S which it is desired to close or open, as desired, by means of a suitable fastening device. As in the case of the device illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the drawing, already described, the fasteners f are each composed of two spring clips riveted or otherwise suitably attached to the fastener-supporting tape or other portion F which preferably-has the beaded portion 11, the opposed portion 0 being provided with the beaded portion 15. The fasteners f are constructed as shown more clearly in Fig. 8 'of the drawing and consist of the spring arm or jaw portions 20, having the rear enlarged flexed portions 21 which serve to increase their resilience and strength, and the outer portions 22', the fas teners being attached to the fastener-retaining port-ion F by any suitable means, as by means of the rivets 24', as in the case of the fasteners 7 described in connection with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the drawing.

The operating member M in this case is provided with the operating ring or handle 28, and instead of being provided with a pair of cooperating grooves 29 and 30 through which the outer extremities 22 of the fasten er 7 ride into and out ofseam-closing position, as in the case of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention shown in Figs. 1. 2. 3. 4 and 5 of the drawing. thecentral or web portion m of the operating member M is preferably slightly wedge-shaped or of increasing thickness from its [wider end 40 towards its narrower end 50. In this way the operation of the operating member M in an upward direction, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing, serves to spread apart the spring arms 20, as shown more clearly in Fig. 7 of the drawing, until the spring arms 20 close over and embrace the beaded edge 15 of the opposed portion 0. Otherwise the arrangement of parts in this embodiment of the present invention and the operation of the device are substantially the same as the arrangement of parts and the operation of the embodiment of the present invention shown in 3, 4 and 5 of the drawing.

In Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawing, I have illustrated still another illustrative embodiment of the device of the present invention. Referring to said embodiment, the fastening device shown therein has been illustrated as applied to the opposed portions G, G", of a Figs. 1, 2,

garmentor other flexible device which is pro' consist of unitary members each preferably consisting of a web or strip of spring or resilient metal, having the arms 20", 20", the flexed rear portions 21", 21", and the outer hooked extremities or jaws 22". There is provided in an intermediate portion of the integral or unitary fastener f" the flexed or bead-shaped portion 20 which provides means whereby the unitary or integral fasteners'f may be attached directly and easily'to the beaded edge 11 of the fastenersupporting portion F. It will be noted that for this purpose the beaded edge 11" is received by and retained within the beaded portion 20 forming a part of each of the fas teners f". In order to increase the hold or purchase of the fasteners 7 upon the beaded edge 11" of the fastener-retaining portion F, such fasteners have the laterally extended beaded portions 20 and 20 as shown more clearly in Fig. 9 of the drawing.

Cooperating with the fastener-retaining portion F and the fasteners f" carried thereby, are the clips which are carried by the beaded edge 15" of the opposed portion 0. The clips 60 are preferably spaced the same distance apart as the fasteners f with which they are intended to cooperate. The clips 60 constitute means on the opposed portion O for locking the fasteners f" against lateral displacement when the two opposed portions of the garment or like de vice are in seam-closing position.

For this purpose, the clips 60, as shown more clearly in Fig. 10 of the drawing, are undercut or provided with the cut-away portions or recesses 60, thus providing depressions within which the hooked extremities 22 of the spring arms or jaws 20 may be securely retained when the device is in seamclosing position.

The operating member M", as shown more clearly in Fig. 10 of the drawing, comprises the outer enlarged guide members 62 and 63, of which the guide member 63, intended to cooperate with the fastener-retaining portion F carrying the fasteners f", is the larger. The guide members 62 and 63 are provided with the slotted outer edges 62 and 63 to permit the passage therethrough of the web of the garment or like portion G, G". An intermediate web portion 64 serves to connect the guides 62 and 63, such guides being of slightly arcuate form.

Within the guide member 63 is a fasteneropeningvor spreading member 67 which is adapted to enter between pairs of opposed spring arms 20 to spread the same apart so that the same may grasp and retain the clips 60 carried by the beaded edge 15" of the opposed portion 0, in a manner which will be readily apparent to those skilled in theart to which the present invention relates. In the upward movement of the operating member M, in the position shown in Fig. 9 of the drawing, the arm-spreading member 67, which is preferably small or narrow at its upper extremity towards the edge 65, increasing in size towards its lower edge 66, enters within the pairs of spring arms 20 and spreads the same apart until the operating member releases such arms so that the extremities 22 of the same may enter into and be held within the depressions 60 of the clips 60. Otherwise the construction and operation of this embodiment of the device is the same as for the illustrative embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, and in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, respectively, of the drawing.

In the illustrative form of the invention shown inFig. 11of the drawing, the fasteners, here indicated by reference character 70, are made-up of unitary or integral strips of a resilient or spring metal, as in the case of the fasteners 7" shown in Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawing, the fasteners 70 each preferably consisting of the arms 71, the rearwardly disposed enlarged flexed portions 72, and-the extremities 73 forming the retaining portions or jaws of the fasteners 70. Intermediate the arms 71 of the fasteners 7 O is an inwardly disposed beaded portion 74: integral with the remaining portions of the fasteners 70, the beaded portion 7 4 providing means whereby the unitary or integral fasteners 70 may be attached directly and conveniently to the beaded edge 75 of the fastener-retaining porgion 76 carrying a plurality of the fasteners Cooperating withv the fastener-retaining portion 76 is an opposed portion 77 carrying means for positioning the fasteners 70 when in seam-closing position. Such means preferably comprise a series of clips 78 which are carried by the beaded portion 7 9- of the opposed portion 77 The clips 7 8, of which a plurality are carried by the opposed portion 77 corresponding in position and number to the position and number of the fasteners 7 O, are each provided with the beaded portion which surrounds and is retained by the bead ed edge 79 of the opposed portion 77. The clips 78 are also provided with the portions 81, preferably of prong-shaped cross-section and provided with the intermediate web portion 82 connecting the prong-shaped portion 81 with the beaded portions 80 of the clips 78. It will be noted that in the embodiment of the invention just described and shown-in Fig. 11 of the'drawing, the fasteners 70, instead of passing over and embracing the beaded edge 79 of the opposed portion'77 of the garment or other suitable device, the seam of which is desired to be opened and closed by the devices of the present invention, passes over and embraces instead the prong-shaped extremities 81 of the series of clips 78 carried by the opposed portion 77 Otherwise, the construction and arrangement of parts'ano the operation of the "embodiment of theinvention just described is substantially the same as for the embodiment described in Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawing, and a similar operating member for entering within and spreading apart the arms'71 of the fasteners 70, in order to enable the same to embrace the prongshaped extremities 81 of the clips 78, in order to close the seam and to carryout the reverse series of operations in order to open the seam, may be employed, all as will readily be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates.

Summarizing the advantages of the devices of the present invention in construction, use and operation, it may be stated that the device is exceedingly simple and permits manufacture in quantity conveniently and economically, and, due to the cheapness of the device, it has" a very wide field of usefulness for seam-closing and opening devices for a wide variety of articles, such as garments, shoes, bags, pouches and the like. The device is also exceedingly easy and convenient to operate. The present invention has still other advantages in construction, use and operation which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present inven-' tion relates. Another important advantage of the present invention is that the fastening devices described made in accordance therewith may be used with seams which are open at both ends instead of at one end only.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a fastening device comprising a fastener-supporting portion, and a plurality of fasteners in the form of unitary spring clips each provided with a pair of opposed, cooperating spring arms and with lateral extension for attaching the clip to the edge portion of said fastener-supporting portion.

2. In a fastening device, a fastener-supporting portion having a beaded edge portion, and a plurality of fasteners in the form of unitary spring clips each provided with a pair of opposed, cooperating spring arms and with means comprising an integral flexed portion intermediate said spring arms for attaching the clip adjacent the beaded edge portion of said fastener-supporting portion.

3. In a fastening device, a fastener-supporting portion, and a plurality of fasteners 1n the form of unitary spring clips each provided with a pair of opposed, cooperating spring arms and with means comprising an integral flexed portion intermediate said spring arms for attaching the clip adjacent the edge portion of said fastener-supporting portion.

4. In a flexible fastening device, a fastening element spring clip of the multiple fastener type, comprising a pair of opposed spring arms an inwardly flexed portion for attaching said clip to a suitable support, and means for permanently securing said inwardly flexed portion to said support.

5. In a flexible fastening device, a fastening element unitary spring clip of the multiple fastener type, comprising a pair of opposed spring arms an inwardly flexed portion for attaching said clip to a suitable support, and means for permanently securing said inwardly flexed portion to said support.

6. In a flexible fastening device, a fastening element unitary springclip of the multiple fastener type, comprismg a pair of'opposed spring arms an inwardly flexed portion integral with said arms and disposed intermediate the same for attaching said clip to a suitable support, and means for permanently securing said inwardly flexed portion to said support.

7. Ina flexible fastening device, a fastening element unitary spring clip of the multiple fastener type, comprising a pair of opposed spring arms an inwardly flexed ortion integral with said arms and dispose in termediate the same for ataching said clip to a suitable support, and means for permanently securing said inwardly flexed portion to said support.

In testimony, whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 26th day of May, .1924.

NOEL STATHAM. 

